translate is a new open-source command-line tool for translating text and files from your terminal.
It is designed for developers and power users who want reliable translation workflows that can be scripted, repeated, and customized.
Why translate
Translation tooling is often either too UI-centric or too rigid.
translate aims to be:
- CLI-first
- configurable
- provider-flexible
You can translate inline text, files, globs, or stdin while keeping the workflow easy to automate.
Key features
translate includes:
- support for multiple providers
- prompt presets
- configurable prompts
- TOML-based configuration
- file-based translation flows suitable for localization pipelines
This makes it practical for both quick one-liners and larger multi-file workflows.
A practical use case: localizing apps and docs
One powerful use case is automatically translating application content, including:
- Xcode localization resources
- String Catalog files
- Markdown documentation
This makes translate useful for teams that want repeatable localization flows directly inside build scripts and CI pipelines.
AI agent workflows
AI agents can use translate as part of automated coding workflows.
For example, an agent can update content, run translate across matching files, and then show the resulting UI or docs in a follow-up screenshot.
Because it is terminal-first, it is a great fit for agent tooling.
Platform availability
translate is available on:
- macOS
- Linux
Open source
translate is open source on GitHub:
If you try it, I would love to hear your feedback and ideas.